Coaching and running

Hey JP, long time no see, how's life in AZ??? Questionable character or not, I'm not sure I'd want pics like that floating around, if i was looking for coaching work and people could do a search using my name.

this was briefly mentioned earlier but needs to be stated again and it is what most people do not understand about collegiate athletics.

You don't go from coaching HS to coaching College at the Division I level, you just don't. And when I say don't I mean it is very rare. You're just not considered, it's the way it is.

It is very similar to the difference in Division I and III. I work in collegiate athletics and the basic rule of thumb, regardless of sport or position, you don't go from Division III to Division I - it's just something you're not considered for. I could have 25 years experience in sports information at a Division III school, but I'll be bottom of the barrel consideration for Division I jobs for the most part. It's the nature of College athletics and the same rules apply when going from coaching HS to coaching College.

I'd be willing to bet the farm in this situation, the AD or hiring supervisor saw his resume and saw no college experience (or maybe limited I'm not sure) and that was the deal breaker. Also, bringing in an Alum isn't really changing anything for UCLA - if they want to get better they need change so they bring in someone from another school, see how they do things.

Just my thoughts

Huh??? wrote:

Hey JP, long time no see, how's life in AZ??? Questionable character or not, I'm not sure I'd want pics like that floating around, if i was looking for coaching work and people could do a search using my name.

Thank you for getting my point (and Shorter's, too).

Things are good. It's hot as blazes. I'm having fun coaching. We go to California to race in three weeks. Wife is busy. Kid is great.

Who is this? E-mail me or Facebook or something.

Hey thats cool, glad to hear things are going well. I don't have a facebook acct. but I'll give you a hint...we used to train off and on together with a club in the mid 80's, I'm a former swimmer/runner in college. We also did a run with your bud from the US XC team in AZ (Tuscon) when I was there looking into a job at Canyon Ranch. Relative to Ortiz, I would have thought that someone of his talent would continued with the running, if not competing, at least just to stay in shape. Maybe he has chronic injuries, who knows. I know I did for years folowing the intense track work we all did, which is why I began swimming competitivly again...now my wafe is forcing me to run with her, been doing 30MPW...ACK.

I wonder why a swim and not a track coach

Before Steve became a great distance runner he was a great age-group swimmer year leading up to high school.

Wow I haven't been on this site for several years and was surprised to see some of the interesting comments. I apologize to anyone who thinks that I BASHED a new coach joining the UCLA coaching staff. It was certainly not my intention. It appears that someone out there chose to take it that way and send a LINK to an old My Space account of mine and use that to discredit my reputation. I will honestly say that for a period of time I was involved in the Nite Club Entertainment field while effectively balancing a retail GM position and coaching both Club and HS swim. Yes I did turn down the position at USC and I will publicly say why. During the time when I had accepted the position at USC I received a phone call from a very prominent person involved with UCLA. I am not going to mention any names but I was told by this individual that I would be frowned upon for joining the coaching staff at USC after everything UCLA has done for me. I was also told by this person that coaching at USC would be the DEATH of any future of mine in the collegiate coaching field. This individual is somebody I highly respected and it was their professional opinion that distance running could not work at USC. Taking all this into consideration I chose not to take the position at USC. This individual also stated to keep my options open for future positions at UCLA. Therefore I don't want to read anymore comments based on half truths. If you want to know feel free to ask. As far as referring to part time coaching kids as simply sending them off while I stand around. I have been a USA swim coach for quite some time now. I often conduct double workouts with my athletes and I have attended many clinics to improve my coaching skills. I have had MULTIPLE athletes earn national times and many have moved on to compete at the collegiate level. My HS teams have won 10 undefeated League Championships. One of my middle school girls cross country programs won the MT SAC sweepstakes race and shattered the course record. While being a distance runner I attended several running clinics. The US Olympic Committee flew me out to Penn State while I was at UCLA for a national level clinic. Len Miller also flew me out to Arizona State for another national level clinic. Yes I was out of the running loop for a bit but only because of POLITICS. I did not lose my competitive edge as a coach while working in the sport of swimming. I had to earn the respect of my peers because I was in fact only a distance runner. I want to make it clear that my experience at UCLA was exceptional. I am satisfied with my athletic accomplishments at UCLA and graduated holding 4 Bruin distance records. I graduated UCLA in 1988 with a degree in Sociology. UCLA brought me back after a 6 year hiatus to earn my degree which I am extremely proud of. I also want to say that after all this discussion about the UCLA coaching position Coach Larsen came out to Victorville and met with me at a Starbucks to share his thoughts about the situation. He told me the new Head Coach wanted to bring his guy in. He also stated that I did not have the NCAA classes to join the UCLA coaching staff with such short notice with the season coming so quickly. So lets keep this whole situation clear and up to date. You will be seeing me this fall in Cross Country. I will be coaching at Granite Hills HS and I am looking forward to bringing everything I have learned as a coach and athlete to the program. The sport of distance running has been extremely good to my family and I. Competitive swimming has made me a better coach and has challenged my talents. Anyone who trained with me knows how competitive I am and that I am not afraid to face a challenge. Love me, hate me, respect me, doubt me... at the end of the day its results that tell the story. See you on the trails this fall!

Steve Ortiz

Steve,

I read through your previous posts and am wondering why you are ranting on this message board? What do you hope to accomplish in reviving a post from 2009? From an outside perspective it comes off as a bunch of complaining, self-promotion and a bit immature. I wish you the best but caution you from making such a public, emotional plea to a bunch of people who likely don't care about who flew you where (or where you went to school for that matter). Seriously, good luck but also take it easy.

Not going to get into the petty stuff but this man ran a 2:13 marathon while at UCLA some 30 years ago. Year to date only 5 US marathoers have run under 2:14. Maybe Steve and Coach Larsen can help the current crop of USA marathoners train for the event properly. Here's one hint, don't do a riduculous amount of training at goal marathon pace.

Avocados Number wrote:

steve Ortiz wrote:

Perhaps my LACK of coaching experience played the major factor in not being awarded the position. We offered the position to a 25 year old ex Boise State athlete. Interesting twist since this gentleman has 1 year coaching experience. I suppose 27 years of coaching under my belt is NOT ENOUGH.

Well, since the position went to a 25-year-old with only one year of coaching, I would suppose that the major factor in your not being awarded the position was your lack of something other than coaching experience.

You are correct sir!

not into it anymore wrote:

Ouch! Somebody just got embarrassed and it wasn't Avocados Number. Why are there so many under aged photos on Steve's facebook? Weird.

Ummmmmmm.....

Well Steve. I guess we know now how it all turned out. Forest Braden is a head coach at William & Mary and your sitting in Prison.

Now we know why there are so many underaged photos.